Raymond Cohen

British violinist, clarinetist, chamber musician, orchestral leader, teacher. Born 27 July 1919 in Manchester, England - Died 28 January 2011 in London Engand. He graduated from the Manchester College of Music. From the 1930's Cohen was solo violinist who performed in orchestras internationally. He became the youngest ever member of the Hallé Orchestra, aged 16. He then spent six years in The Band of the Royal Corps of Signals. He was a Professor at the Royal College of Music, London. He became leader of the Goldsborough Orchestra (later to become the English Chamber Orchestra), The Haydn Orchestra, The New Symphony Orchestra Of London and the Pro Arte Orchestra Of London, and also guest-led most of the UK's leading chamber orchestras as well as the Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. In 1959, Sir Thomas Beecham appointed Cohen leader of The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a post Cohen held for six years (until 1965). Following his term as RPO leader, Cohen continued a career as a soloist and increased his work in chamber music. In 1953, Cohen married the pianist Anthya Rael. They had two children: Gillian Cohen, a violinist, and Robert Cohen, a cellist. Raymond and Robert occasionally gave duo recitals and later on, Anthya joined them to form The Cohen Trio.